Timing Belt Replacement on 2002 Honda Civic
August 16, 2013 11:57 AM Subscribe
My daughter is embarking on a longish road trip in September. She as an '02 Civic that has a bit over 92K miles on it. I want to cover doing whatever is necessary to make this car not break down.
Honda says that, under normal conditions, timing belts on these cars should be replaced at 110K.
While I would rather defer the 6 or 700 dollars it will take to do this job, I also want to be prudent and not put her at risk for an engine meltdown on this trip.
Should I bite the bullet and get it (and the water pump) changed out, or can I assume that putting a few thousand more miles on this car will be OK, before replacement?
Honda says that, under normal conditions, timing belts on these cars should be replaced at 110K.
While I would rather defer the 6 or 700 dollars it will take to do this job, I also want to be prudent and not put her at risk for an engine meltdown on this trip.
Should I bite the bullet and get it (and the water pump) changed out, or can I assume that putting a few thousand more miles on this car will be OK, before replacement?
If I were you I would take the hit. It is going to need to be replaced soonish anyway (I had the timing belt/water pump replaced on my old Civic at 85k) and the consequences of it failing mid-roadtrip are huge as you know.
That said, it probably would be fine. The question is whether or not you and your daughter are prepared to deal with the consequences if it is not.
posted by Kimberly at 12:02 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
That said, it probably would be fine. The question is whether or not you and your daughter are prepared to deal with the consequences if it is not.
posted by Kimberly at 12:02 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
Kimberly stated my thoughts exactly. The only thing I have to add is shop around and you can probably get the timing belt and water pump both done for less than $700.
If money is really tight and you and your daughter are willing to accept the risk, at least inspect the belt with a flashlight, looking for any cracking, especially on the toothed side of the belt, or other signs of significant wear. If you find cracks or oil on the belt, get it replaced.
FWIW, I had my old Accord's second timing belt change done at over 200,000, which was somewhat more than 20,000 miles over the recommended interval on my model year. It was fine and not really even in dire need of replacement when I did have it done. However, I was only driving within about a two hours of home at all times during that period, so a breakdown would have been a relatively minor inconvenience. Moreover, the belt wasn't 11 years old at the time, probably closer to 3 or 4.
posted by wierdo at 12:18 PM on August 16, 2013
If money is really tight and you and your daughter are willing to accept the risk, at least inspect the belt with a flashlight, looking for any cracking, especially on the toothed side of the belt, or other signs of significant wear. If you find cracks or oil on the belt, get it replaced.
FWIW, I had my old Accord's second timing belt change done at over 200,000, which was somewhat more than 20,000 miles over the recommended interval on my model year. It was fine and not really even in dire need of replacement when I did have it done. However, I was only driving within about a two hours of home at all times during that period, so a breakdown would have been a relatively minor inconvenience. Moreover, the belt wasn't 11 years old at the time, probably closer to 3 or 4.
posted by wierdo at 12:18 PM on August 16, 2013
Timing chains/belts are totally random. You could go 200K on the original, or it could go at 90K. I wouldn't change out a timing chain preemptively, but that's just me. There's no reason to think there will be a problem just because you're 15k on the good side of what the manual says. Especially if she treats the car gently.
posted by humboldt32 at 12:44 PM on August 16, 2013
posted by humboldt32 at 12:44 PM on August 16, 2013
Is it a 15k mile road trip? I really doubt it.
These things tend to be made to last a bit longer than the rated time, not less. It's not something that will fail prematurely, especially on a honda.
The one thing i would check though is does the manual state "110k miles OR 7 years" or some length of time language like that? Because if so fuck yea, change it now. I know quite a few cars have the time-or-distance requirement because the heat of the engine and just dry rot and such will eat away at the belts integrity.
Personally, i'd only change it if that time requirement was in there though. Otherwise i'd do it some time after the trip.
posted by emptythought at 1:22 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
These things tend to be made to last a bit longer than the rated time, not less. It's not something that will fail prematurely, especially on a honda.
The one thing i would check though is does the manual state "110k miles OR 7 years" or some length of time language like that? Because if so fuck yea, change it now. I know quite a few cars have the time-or-distance requirement because the heat of the engine and just dry rot and such will eat away at the belts integrity.
Personally, i'd only change it if that time requirement was in there though. Otherwise i'd do it some time after the trip.
posted by emptythought at 1:22 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
I would change them now, if you can afford it. That thing breaking is an engine destroying event and something like that far from home is a very expensive repair. Also, while they have that going on, they can do other prophylactic work that needs done - springs/struts, brakes etc.
It's not too big a deal if she has a yuppie repair kit*, but personally, I'd have them replaced.
*credit card and a cell phone
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:39 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's not too big a deal if she has a yuppie repair kit*, but personally, I'd have them replaced.
*credit card and a cell phone
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 1:39 PM on August 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you get it done, get it done asap. You want to have time to drive locally to break in or reveal any issues caused by the work. Its not fun to be stuck mid long trip with problems that the original shop would have covered if you were still nearby.
posted by TheAdamist at 1:44 PM on August 16, 2013
posted by TheAdamist at 1:44 PM on August 16, 2013
humboldt32: "Timing chains/belts are totally random. You could go 200K on the original, or it could go at 90K."
Timing chains and timing belts are different animals. Yeah, a chain could stick around for 200k. No belt except one driven at a steady speed for long long distances is going to do that.
I'd get it done. The definition of "normal conditions" is babying the car to a ridiculous extent. The severe duty schedule is what you need to look at. You're probably overdue using those guidelines. Since the engine is an interference engine, if the belt goes, the engine is toast; you don't want to chance it.
Get a coolant flush while you're at it. It's halfway done, just doing the water pump.
posted by notsnot at 2:52 PM on August 16, 2013
Timing chains and timing belts are different animals. Yeah, a chain could stick around for 200k. No belt except one driven at a steady speed for long long distances is going to do that.
I'd get it done. The definition of "normal conditions" is babying the car to a ridiculous extent. The severe duty schedule is what you need to look at. You're probably overdue using those guidelines. Since the engine is an interference engine, if the belt goes, the engine is toast; you don't want to chance it.
Get a coolant flush while you're at it. It's halfway done, just doing the water pump.
posted by notsnot at 2:52 PM on August 16, 2013
My 2003 Civic manual said to do it at 110,000 miles or 7 years. I got it done at 7 years, since it would have taken me many more years to get up to 110,000 miles.
posted by Maarika at 7:45 PM on August 16, 2013
posted by Maarika at 7:45 PM on August 16, 2013
You will have to get the timing belt changed anyway as part of major maintenance stuff so might as well get it done now. Also, look into whether you need to get the water pump done or not- it tends to come as a package deal but timing belt is the one that is more critical and there is no need to get the water pump done if there is no problem.
Also, maybe look into the damage that can be done to the engine if the belt is not changed on time and it gives up and how much it is then going to cost you.
posted by xm at 9:47 PM on August 16, 2013
Also, maybe look into the damage that can be done to the engine if the belt is not changed on time and it gives up and how much it is then going to cost you.
posted by xm at 9:47 PM on August 16, 2013
Get it done. If you don't, and it goes, it will cause a lot of other damage and cost you a LOT more than getting it done now. On a Civic, this is one of those things you fix before it actually breaks.
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:56 PM on August 16, 2013
posted by MexicanYenta at 9:56 PM on August 16, 2013
I had one go on me, on the freeway, back in the day. Scary and dangerous. Do it prophylacticly. It's either miles or time. After 12 years you probably need one, even if you haven't hit the mileage.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:18 AM on August 17, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 4:18 AM on August 17, 2013
nthing "do it now, you'll need to do it soon enough". I'm within about 5,000 miles of a timing belt change on the Civic I drive, and while I'm okay with leaving it a little while when I'm only using it for short trips around town, I'd get it done if I had any kind of lengthy drive planned.
posted by holgate at 10:50 AM on August 17, 2013
posted by holgate at 10:50 AM on August 17, 2013
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posted by MillMan at 12:01 PM on August 16, 2013